Comedian-turned-mayor Jon Gnarr moving to HoustonHouston will soon have a famous Icelandic comedian, pundit, and former mayor of Reykjavík in its midst when Jon Gnarr begins his residence this coming spring at Rice University. He will be the Center for Energy and Environmental Research in the Human Sciences’ first writer-in-residence during the upcoming spring semester. Dominic Boyer, professor of anthropology and center director, is quoted.Chron.comhttp://tinyurl.com/lzgbvn2Around the area & state: Icelandic comedian, ex-mayor to start Rice residenceHouston Chronicle (Subscription required.)http://tinyurl.com/o3973hr

Harris County district attorney’s race heats upA Rice University political science professor says with 13 days to elections, the marquis race to watch is Harris County DA. Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.Texas Sentinelhttp://www.texassentinel.com/2014/10/23/harris-county-district-attorneys-race-heats-up/

Debate over storm surge fix, no consensus madeIn August, after nearly six years of debate between academicians at Rice University and Texas A&M at Galveston over whose idea was best, a committee of state legislators expressed frustration that the two sides could not agree on a unified plan. Members of the Joint Committee on Coastal Barrier Systems said it would take stronger steps on its own, if the two groups could not come to some kind of independent agreement.Galveston County Daily News (Subscription required.)http://www.galvestondailynews.com/news/local_news/article_15b1d560-5b35-11e4-9fca-0017a43b2370.html

Space explorers hole up in Hawaii to simulate life on MarsA six-person team, comprising the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation 3 mission, is inhabiting a dome for an eight-month study of the human factors that contribute to astronaut crew function and performance over time. David Alexander, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Rice Space Institute, is quoted.Tech News Worldhttp://www.technewsworld.com/story/81245.html

The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra presents a concert that commemorates the 25th anniversary of fall of Berlin WallA special retrospective of the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War will take place at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Nov. 2.Broadway Worldhttp://tinyurl.com/njrand7

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Garner named DCHS Most Valuable ChoctawDCHS senior Gunner Garner was selected from seven finalists for the high honor of being named Dyer County’s Most Valuable Choctaw. Garner plans to attend Rice University.Dyersburg State Gazette (Dyersburg, Tenn.)http://www.stategazette.com/story/2131340.html

Rice U. expert available to comment on Ebola outbreak and movie representations of virusesAs the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and fears over the virus’ spread to the United States continue to receive media attention, a Rice University professor said the public’s perception of how viruses spread is greatly influenced by Hollywood movie portrayals of diseases and contagion. But she noted that Hollywood representations are themselves greatly influenced by public health media and have been since World War I.http://news.rice.edu/2014/10/23/rice-u-expert-available-to-comment-on-ebola-outbreak-and-movie-representations-of-viruses/